Georgia State University's College of Education, located in Atlanta, offers a Ph.D. in early childhood education as part of its wide-ranging education curriculum. The program is divided into three areas of study: a core area, a major area and a cognate area. Eighteen hours are required in each of those areas and an additional nine hours is required for the dissertation. Areas covered by the early childhood education major area include studies in trends, issues and historical perspectives in the field, one research seminar, one research apprenticeship, a seminar in advanced development theory, curriculum in the discipline of early childhood education and teacher development. The program is intended to provide students with expertise for children from birth to age 10. U.S. News & World Report ranked the entire Georgia State University education program No. 54 in the nation in 2009.
Georgia State University
The College of Education Building
30 Pryor St., Ste. 550
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-413-8020
education.gsu.edu
Also nationally ranked, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the No. 23 education program in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The early childhood education program offers a Ph.D. that is designed to be interdisciplinary. UNC's specialty within the field is in early childhood, intervention and literacy. Students are required to take 12 hours of research methods seminars and several semesters of research under the direction of a faculty member. Students are encouraged to take courses outside the school.
The University of North Carolina
School of Education
CB 3500 Peabody Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-966-1346
soe.unc.edu
New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development offers a Ph.D. in early childhood education and it is ranked No. 14 among all education departments nationwide by U.S. News. Like UNC and GSU, the NYU program divides its required course work among several areas. Students must take a number of foundation courses, research seminars, cognate areas and specialized research courses to prepare for the qualifying exams and dissertation. Major areas of emphasis covered by the program include curriculum development, human and child development, children's learning as affected by literacy and language, the cultural context's impact on learning, evaluation and assessment in teaching, different learning styles and the importance of family on the learning process.
NYU Steinhardt
Department of Teaching and Learning
239 Greene Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003
212-998-5460
steinhardt.nyu.edu